Governor signs teen's bill lowering blood donor age to 16

Wednesday

Sep 24, 2008 at 12:01 AMSep 24, 2008 at 9:17 PM

Lexington High School junior Mark Chonofsky was in the State House Wednesday, standing by as Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill Chonofsky authored to lower the minimum age to donate blood to 16 in Massachusetts.

Ian B. Murphy

Lexington High School junior Mark Chonofsky was in the State House Wednesday, standing by as Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill Chonofsky authored to lower the minimum age to donate blood to 16 in Massachusetts.

Chonofsky wrote the bill, officially known as HB 4547, when he was a 14-year-old freshman at Lexington High School. The bill made it through the legislature, with the help of state Rep. Jay Kaufman, D-Lexington, in less than two years. The average bill takes around six.

“I would say it was almost light speed,” Kaufman said. “It was a remarkably short and swift journey, partly because the idea is self-evidently sound, and in part because of Mark’s enthusiasm and insistence.”

Chonofsky was pleased that his bill received so much support from Kaufman and the Legislature.

“I’m ecstatic that the bill passed, and it passed so quickly,” Chonofsky said. “It’s really an example how government can work efficiently and get things done.”

Chonofsky and Kaufman are working with the American Red Cross to host a blood donation at Lexington High School as soon as the bill goes into effect. Chonofsky is now 16; he’ll be able to be the first donor to take advantage of his new law.

“We’re going to have a blood drive where the Red Cross makes this policy, and I’ll be donating there,” Chonofsky said. “I hope other people will too.”

Normally, new bills become law 90 days after the governor signs them; this bill could be placed into effect sooner, Kaufman said.

Kaufman praised Chonofsky’s effort and persistence to get this bill through the House and Senate.

“I think Mark did us all an enormous service, in many regards,” Kaufman said. “For one, we will have new, energetic blood in our blood supply. For another, his age cohort will have another opportunity to learn up close and personal about civic engagement.

“Lastly, Mark brought a transfusion of ideas and energy to my office. He started with a good idea, and then he kept calling, and being in touch, making sure that we in my office and we in the Legislature did what we needed to do to complete the process.”